working with promising writers
—in between the lines—
captivating them with their own words
under-aged over-qualified writers using language with such dexterity— agility— humor—— at times the words themselves don't know what to expect and next thing you know— you find you're counting syllables as our way with words begins to rub off onto your fingertips—you've got newsprint writers on your hands....

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

So when princess training started, the Queen had to take Pinky, although the King was supposed to take Pinky because, he was her dad. When Pinky was walking in, the teacher asked Pinky, “why are you so sad?” Trying to ignore her pink skin. She replied in a sad but strong voice, “my dad died in war.” All the little princesses were surprised.

the next act.........to be continued next week.............................!

When Pinky was three her father, the King, died in war. After it had been a week, Pinky and her mom got the letter. They were very sad and they started to cry. Then after they stopped, the Queen called her friends, “girls, please help, I need you to call all the Kings friends, and tell them the King died.” The Queen’s friends answered, “We’ll tell them all right away.”

Friday, April 3, 2009

...When the Queen got home, her friends were there to congratulate her. When they saw Pinky, they said, “She’s Pink, your baby is Pink!” “Yes I did know that my baby is pink.” Said the Queen annoyed. Then the King looked at them said, “Why do you have to scream it so loud.” The friends answered, “She’s pink!” Then the Queen said, “I still love her even if she’s pink!” Then the Queen friends left. With in one year, Pinky was walking around saying, “playtime.”

Can you keep a secret? You can! Ok then. On March 12, 2009 it is my brother Owen’s birthday. My whole family is coming down to see him. So you’re probably thinking, "What how is that a secret?" Well that’s just it, it’s not I repeat NOT a secret. The really real secret is that my whole family is having a huge surprise birthday party for him. He is turning seven. Owen has never been to or had a surprise birthday party. So this will be a huge shocker for him. So here’s the plan:

6:00pm brother/Owen goes to his baseball game.6:30pm Mom and Peyton/me go and get decorations for the party.7:00pm family arrives and helps decorate house.7:15pm go get vanilla baseball cake from Safeway.7:45pm give out party toy called Silly String to everyone in family.7:55pm get everyone in the house. Turn out all the lights. Hide all the family’s car, so it looks like no one’s home.8pm Owen arrives home, walks to the door, everyone yells “SURPRISE!” Owen falls over, and is in frozen shock mode. Everyone helps him up.8:15pm we eat our delicious cake with yummy milk.

So you have heard my plan. Today is the 9th which means the party is in THREE DAYS! What! I though we still had 14 more days I gotta get going on this plan for the party. Hope I can finish this plan by the 12th. Please wish me good luck. I hope you liked my party idea. Ask me about it on the 13th and I might just bring you some cake.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

a poem dedicated to the ridiculous vocab words on Olivia’s vocab test tomorrow (and an attempt to define them)

1. Hyperthyroidism, Hyperglycemia these are wordsI will never use in my life

2. Hypersensitive, Hypertension they’re too hard to spell

3. It’s Horrible to Hyperextend but at least I know what it means, it means when one of your joints bends and then pops out the other side....Horrible

4. Hypercritical people are no fun to be around they’re judgmental, they’re mean and snooty

5. Once I saw a man going up to the bus stop he must have had Hypertension because his arm looked like it was going to explode (isn’t this what happens when you have high blood pressure?)

6. Hyperthermia is when you turn...is when..uh...is....when your temperature is really high and you probablyturn all bright red too

7. Hyperactive is when my little brother runs aroundthe restaurant and is Hyperactive and it’s so embarrassing

8. Ok Hyperextend, Hypersensitive those are words I might use (but they are still horrible)

9. Hyper Hyper Hyper I’m Hyperventilating because all these words are Hyper

10. And finally, I never use Hyperbole they’re so lame, only for people who write poems

Hyper Hyper Hyper these are words too hard to spell Horrible no fun to be around going to explode you probably turn all bright red so embarrassing still horrible, they’re so lame, only for Hypersensitive, Hypercritical people who write poems!

You never know What a book holdsUntil you open up the pages That sometimes foldAnd they look All crumpled and oldAnd when you readThe pages that beholdThe MiraculousAdventuresOf the untoldAnd sometimesIf you’re not luckyThe pages will never unfoldAnd they will always lookAll crumpled and oldAnd you will not be ableTo read the pages that beholdThe MiraculousAdventuresOf the untold

writing from any angle

writing from the rooftops

passing on inspiration

you've got newsprint writers on your hands

making something of nothing— scribbling words spilling coffee cleaning up my messes scribbling coffee spilling poetry on napkins—
from behind big dark sunglasses and chronic migraines, good coffee gone cold and the hours, the hours where do they— i write. leaving traces of haiku on scraps of paper everywhere i go and working with promising writers— captivating them with their own words.
i read read read (despite the fact i'm a slow reader) and i'd say a good 75% of those books are picture books (ya, kids' books, whatever) and if i catch you standing there i'll start reading one to you, i believe every adult needs a good dose of children's lit every day. a picture book can turn around your entire perspective, make you laugh, and the pictures are just too good!
...in fact, i dabbled in the trade myself way back when (a year or so after this photo of me was taken, i do believe).
and since my 1st grade debut stories ‘how to make a peanut butter and tuna fish sandwich’ and ‘i hate saturday morning cartoons’ i’ve had words at my fingertips and now, they're at yours—
c

"write on the sole of my shoe"

robert frost

newsprint writers

under-aged over-qualified writers using language with such dexterity— agility— humor—— at times the words themselves don't know what to expect and next thing you know— you find you're counting syllables as our way with words begins to rub off onto your fingertips—you've got newsprint writers on your hands....

Cultivating an agility to write the words that always moved you...for words

Instruction and guidance is based off of a reflection of each individual's personality, ability, interests etc.. and customized, down to the last syllable, to best fit the particular needs of every writer. A relationship and ease with words will lead to confidence and agility in communicative, creative and academic endeavors. The spark that ignites it-- the initial passion, fluency and rapport with words-- is what we seek when writing from the rooftops.

but petals keep falling from this-- [six words]

writing poems on flowers

inspiring young writers through their own words

Writing from the Rooftops

Every individual session is custom designed to best fit the needs of each child-- with expressive tools from technology, internet and new media to syllable, pencil and lined notebook paper.

A relationship with words and ease with writing will lead to confidence and agility in communicative, creative and academic endeavors. The spark that ignites it-- the initial passion, fluency and rapport with words-- is what we seek when writing from the rooftops.

words words words

wonderland

we ♥ haiku

by alexis rotella

just 17 little syllables....

haiku.

Introducing Olivia.

Otherwise known as *O*Olivia is so cool she loves to write poems and loves to hang with friends! Olivia is really fun to be around. Olivia loves all animals and is happy to just be a friend to almost anyone. Olivia Loves to help people feel good and not be sad. Olivia says “If you are sad find a good friend and have a nice talk.”

by (abby)

more about (abby)

It is more about me. Well I like to dance, play soccer, and love to write all the time.I like to and write haiku, poems, six word stories and just stories about different things.At home I like to hang out with my parents and three siblings, Taylor my oldest bother, Alec my other brother, and my little sister Pyper and Gracie my dog. I’m in seventh grade and twelve years old. Well you probably know a lot a about me now.

p.s. abby in six words {by c}

in words, stories, life—pink princess.

pyper's world in black and white

pyper's world : in black and white

pyper is currently writing her intro for you.... but i just wanted to tell you one thing about her. ok, maybe two things. the other day she told me that when she grows up she wants to be a professional soccer player and professional dancer. both! isn't that great!? that just gives you a taste of how much energy she has and how different her passions are. and another thing-- watch out for her six word stories-- they are so much fun!

Reading Raquel's Files

We have a new Rooftoper named Raquel. She loves to read, she tells a great story and talks up a storm...... but there's just one thing that's-- well-- that's gonna shock you about her-- she hates to write. I know. So Raquel will be _______ from the rooftops with us. And I bet you're wondering how you're going to be able to share in the goodness of her stories if she won't write them down. I've been asking myself the same question. Let me ask her and I'll get back to you with the answer to this puzzling dilemma. But anyway, we welcome her and look forward to all her stories. She has files and files of real life adventures stored in the computer of her mind!

Introducing Peyton

Peyton joins us with her first story for Writing from the Rooftops, the story is called Crack! Ouch! It's funny and dramatic and you can read it here! Read more about Peyton very soon....